Women · By cause
A collection · 48 women · 19 countries
African women who fought for women's rights
Nearly every woman in this archive fought for women's rights in some form, but for these women it was the whole point. They campaigned for the vote, for property and inheritance, for protection from violence, and for a seat at the table.
Start here
Three women to meet first
All 48
A to Z
Sorted by name
A
Adelaide Casely-Hayford
A
Adelaide Tambo
Aisha Buhari
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
Annie Jiagge
Asha-Rose Migiro
Assia Djebar
B
Bilkisu Yusuf
Bolanle Awe
B
Brenda Fassie
D
Deolinda Rodrigues
Djamila Bouhired
E
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Kuzwayo
Esther Afua Ocloo
F
F
Fatima Meer
Folake Solanke
G
Gertrude Mongella
Graça Machel
H
Hauwa Ibrahim
Hawa Abdi
Huda Shaarawi
J
Jeanne Martin Cissé
Josina Machel
Joyce Banda
Julienne Lusenge
L
Leymah Gbowee
Lupita Nyong'o
M
Miriam Makeba
Muthoni Likimani
N
Nawal El Saadawi
N
Nwanyeruwa
O
Olive Schreiner
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Oumou Sangaré
P
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
S
Sally Mugabe
Samia Suluhu Hassan
Specioza Wandira-Kazibwe
T
Theresa Kachindamoto
Tsitsi Dangarembga
V
Vera Chirwa
W
W
Wambui Otieno
Wangari Maathai
Waris Dirie
Winnie Byanyima
Y
Yemisi Ransome-Kuti
Z
Zainab Bangura
Other causes